BONUS: I also happened upon a great video that I hadn't seen before of the 1981 NASL Soccer Bowl between the Chicago Sting and New York Cosmos. If you have a few minutes, definitely watch it, it's a high quality video and it ends with a great shootout.

Ken Cooper - Current FC Dallas player Kenny Cooper's father

Glenn "Mooch" Myernick - Former influential coach and all around good guy in the US national team program. Here is a link to the Mooch Myernick Memorial Fund.

Ray Hudson - GOLtv announcer looking like he will "“capitalise on it like a big werewolf with a plate of liver in front of it.” (He actually said that, while announcing a game last May....). Here's a link to Shut Tha Windaz for many more Ray Hudson-isms.

Comparisons: According to a 2006 BBC article on player wages, Championship players in England earned an average salary of about $385,000, League One players $130,000, and League Two players earn $95,000.

That means that the average salary of the best players in MLS in 2009 falls somewhere between League One and Championship average salaries.

John Terry is/was reportedly being offered around $1.6 million a month to play for Manchester City. That would make Terry $400,000 a WEEK, which is around the average YEARLY salary of the best players in MLS. Funny money.....

The lowest paid all-star in the final 18 roster in 2008 was Jonathan Bornstein, with a salary of $77,500. This season 5 players on the final 18 make $65,000 or less. (Somebody give Stuart Holden a raise!!)

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Most soccer followers know about the great fans at the major clubs around the world. This series of videos shows the fans from clubs around the world that many people wouldn't think of first when thinking of excellent fan support (although, outside of currently 2nd division Portland, all of the clubs here are regular top division title contenders in their respective countries). There are so many videos that I could have included that I'll definitely revisit this topic again in the future.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

This is a list of the handful of 15, 16, and 17 year olds that made at least one first team appearance in the major leagues of Europe and MLS last season (08/09). The age listed is the players age when they made their first appearance of the season.

* At 15 years and 45 days old, Reuben Noble-Lazarus became the youngest player ever to feature in an English Football League match when he came on as a substitute during Barnsley's 3–0 Championship defeat by Ipswich Town on 30 September 2008.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Apologies for the 'lazy' post today, I've been short on time recently. I stayed up way past my 'newborn-influenced' bedtime to watch this game last night and I have to say it was worth the lost sleep. Entertaining game, Beckham-boos, Beckham precision passing, Inspired (again) Landon Donovan, Ronaldinho looking like the Ronny of old, the game had a little bit of everything. Here are the highlights and a few post game reactions.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Here are a few example clips of soccer in animated (cartoon) form. The first clip is the full first episode of Captain Tsubasa: Road to 2002 (wiki). Veoh has more full episodes of the classic soccer anime. The clips following Tsubasa are from The Simpsons (couldn't find a decent Ronaldo appearance clip), Family Guy, Whistle!, Hungry Heart Wild Striker, and Inazuma Eleven. There are quite a few more anime soccer shows out there, but I'm no expert. Feel free to share your favorite soccer animation moments or shows in the comments.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

This Google map shows the club teams of the 2009 Haitian Gold Cup squad, the USA's next matchup in the group stage of the GC. There are some interesting 'stadiums' to look at if you click the icons and zoom in. Click the link below the map for a list view of the players and their clubs.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

This is a list of English Language "Official" player websites from MLS (and former MLS) and the rest of the world. Be prepared for a plethora of flash intros, self-indulgent photos, and month old content.

I've been working on this list for a long time and put together most of it on my own but recently found a good site (that I wish I'd found sooner) with much of this info on it - Best Players Directory. Check that site out for fansites, foreign language official players sites, and more.

Feel free to let me know of more "Official" player sites in the comments or by email.

Here are a few stats to help get an idea of the experience of the Gold Cup squads. While USA, Honduras, and Mexico have sent 'B/C' squads, nations like Jamaica, El Salvador, and Panama have sent close to their full strength 'A' teams. Will that even the field?

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

This Google Map shows all of the venues for the 2009 Gold Cup. Click the icons for schedule and matchup information at each venue and zoom in to see the stadiums. Click 'View Gold Cup 2009 Venues in a larger map' for a list view of the venues and dates.